Nature 101Audience: K - Grade 2 Offered: Year RoundState Correlations: Science: L.OL.02.12, L.OL.01.13, L.OL.00.12Join us for an introduction to the basics of nature! We’ll cover the needs of plants, animals and the variety of habitats they call home.

Everything in nature is somebody else’s dinner! Explore feeding relationships among organisms and discover what happens when those relationships are disrupted.

Communities

Audience: Grades 6-8

Offered: Year RoundState Correlations: L.EC.06.21, L.EC.06.23, L3.P3DEverything in the natural world is connected. How individuals interact with each other as part of a community is an important part of the environment. We will also examine human impact on natural communities.

Watershed QualityAudience: Grades 6-12 Offered: SeasonallyState Correlations: L.EC.06.41, L3.P4AEveryone lives in a watershed! This class will include a health assessment of a body of water by a variety of techniques, including chemical and physical sampling methods. This is a hands-on activity conducted as weather permits.

Invasive SpeciesAudience: Grades 6-12 Offered: SeasonallyState Correlations: L.EC.06.41, L3.P4A, B3.4B, B3.4CInvasive plant and animal species are changing our native landscape and greatly affecting the plants and animals in our Great Lakes region. We will learn about the ecological, environmental and economic impacts.

Nature Hikes

Take a hike! Explore the wilds of Detroit’s island gem, Belle Isle. Nature Zoo educators will guide you around Belle Isle and explain the island’s ecology and its importance to the Great Lakes.

Backyard Trail Hike

Audience: K - Grade 3

Offered: Seasonally

State Correlations: L.OL.00.11, L.OL.00.12

Our youngest nature enthusiasts will explore the natural areas immediately surrounding the Nature Zoo. They will get a chance to observe and encounter the wilds first hand on this quarter mile trek.

Wildwood Trail Hike

Audience: Grades 4-12

Offered: Seasonally

State Correlations: Science: L.EC.04.21

A short walk from the Nature Zoo is a recently restored nature trail that allows guests to view the heart of the island. On this one-mile adventure you will get to learn about secondary succession while exploring a nature trail that was once a road.

Wetland Nature Hike

Audience: Grades 6-12

Offered: Seasonally

State Correlations: L.EC.06.11

Take an extended hike to learn about the importance of wetlands to the Great Lakes region. Students will learn about the different types of wetlands throughout Belle Isle and Michigan. This two mile hike will cover Blue Heron Lagoon, the Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse, the Detroit River and much more.

African Adventure StoriesAudience: All Offered: Year Round, Saturdays at the Nature ZooAfrican Adventure Stories is an engaging educational experience that combines storytelling with opportunities to view and handle biofacts (biological artifacts) and cultural objects, including African drums. The goal of the program is to inspire urban youth and families to appreciate wildlife, care for the environment and respect diverse cultures.